According to OPG’s Nuclear Benchmarking Report (2015), Pickering’s operating costs per kWh, exclusive of fuel costs, are higher than those of any other nuclear station in North America.

In 2014, Pickering’s fuel and operating costs alone (8.16 cents per kWh) were more than double the average market price of electricity (3.60 cents per kWh). As a result, Ontario’s Electricity System Operator was required to provide Ontario Power Generation with “out-of-market” payments totaling $912 million [20 billion kWh produced x (8.16 – 3.60 cents per kWh)] to subsidize Pickering’s operating deficit.   These “out-of-market” payments were financed by a surcharge on Ontario’s wholesale electricity rates.

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